This was the second meeting of these sides this season at Shamrock Lodge. They met earlier in the season in the league and the supporters of Boyne reckoned that this was the best match seen at the Lodge this season. However, last Sundays game turned that on its head and there could be little doubt that this game had all the ingredients a rugby purist could possibly need. Those who turned out to see this game, and they were considerable, enjoyed a top class display of football that saw the two sides out on their feet at the end of the game.

Boyne concluded their league programme last Sunday before a sizeable crowd at Shamrock Lodge with a win over Tullow to consolidate a third place finish in the Leinster League Division 1. This has been their highest placing in a few years and they will look back on two of their three defeats against Monkstown and Seapoint with a certain amount of regret knowing that they could have won both of these games. But, Coach & Captain Craig McGrath was in buoyant mood following this match and says that he is looking forward to the rewards that the team will derive from finishing third.

This is a trip that Boyne team and supporters always undertake with great trepidation and there was an added anxiety on Sunday last. The midlands side is coached this season by Kiwi, Andy Melville who, in the past, has caused Boyne huge problems when he coached Naas in this league. Melville chose not to start this game and picked himself on the bench. However, Boyne’s restored confidence this season overcame both obstacles, the long trip to the midlands venue and the introduction to the game of Tullamore coach, Melville, in the 56th minute failed to unnerve the Drogheda team.

This game was brought forward to Saturday because of the Heineken Cup Fixture between Leinster and Edinburgh on Sunday. The game was timed for a 6pm start and was played under lights at Gorey. Boyne's preparations began at 1:30 pm when they assembled at Shamrock Lodge for departure by bus to the South East venue. There was to be a stop for an hour, courtesy of the Arklow Bay Hotel, to have a team talk and some light bites and refreshments before completing the pre match journey to Gorey.